Rope engaging docking device

ABSTRACT

A rope engaging docking device for attaching a dock line to an out of reach dock cleat. The docking device includes an elongated pole with a fork member attached to the elongated pole&#39;s distal end. The fork member includes a center hub that attaches to the elongated pole and two diverging spreader arms each with a rope engaging slot formed on its distal end. During use, a large loop is formed on one end of the dock line. The loop is then positioned in the open center located between the two spreader arms so that the side sections of the loop are forced into the two rope engaging slots and the apex of the loop hangs below the fork member. The elongated pole is then extended over the dock cleat so the apex of the loop droops downward and placed behind a dock cleat. The crew member then pulls the dock rope to tighten the loop around the dock cleat. The device is then pulled reward to disconnect it from the dock line.

This utility patent application is based on and claims the filing date benefit of U.S. provisional patent application (Application No. 61860211) filed on Jul. 30, 2013.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Notice is given that the following patent document contains original material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile or digital download reproduction of all or part of the patent document, but otherwise reserves all copyrights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

This invention relates to devices for securing a dock line from a boat to an out-of-reach dock cleat while standing on a boat.

2. Description of the Related Art:

When docking a boat, sometimes only one crew member is available for guiding the boat up to the dock and for attaching dock lines from the boat to the dock cleats. Sometimes, the crew member must jump from the boat to the dock which can be dangerous. While standing on the boat, some crew members can throw the dock line over the cleat and snag it, other crew members find this method unreliable. While attempting to connect the dock lines to the dock cleats, the crew member may be required to hold the sides of the hull away from the dock until all of the dock lines are attached and the protective bumpers are positioned properly. These tasks are especially difficult in rough water or in windy conditions.

A docking device is needed that makes it easier to attach a dock line to a dock cleat when standing on the boat. What is also needed is a docking device that can be used with a standard dock line that may have a bowline knot and loop formed on the end. What is also needed is a docking device that temporarily attaches to two rope segments that form a loop that partially droops or extends downward from the end of the device held enabling the crew member to easily extend the apex of the loop formed on the dock line around the dock cleat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other needs are met by a rope engaging docking device disclosed herein that includes an elongated pole with a fork member mounted on the elongated pole's distal end. The fork member is a yoke or u-shaped structure with a center hub and two, narrow spreader arms. The center hub is connected to the distal end of the elongated pole. The two spreader arms diverge from the center hub and their distal ends are spaced apart with a wide, central open space located between them. The spreader arms are approximately the same lengths so their distal ends are approximately equal distance on opposite sides of the elongated pole's longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the longitudinal axis of each spreader arm is substantially parallel to the elongated pole's longitudinal axis.

Formed on the distal end of each spreader arm is a rope engaging slot. The longitudinal axis of each rope engaging slot is aligned with the spreader arm's longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, each rope engaging slot is V-shaped with side edges that converge towards the center hub. During use, two segments on the dock line are transversely aligned over the distal ends of the two spreader arms. The dock line is then pressed into the two slots which temporarily hold the two segments on the ends of the two spreader arms. During use, a relatively large loop is formed in the dock line. The two segments of the loops are attached to the slots formed on the two spreader arms and the apex of the loop extends downward from the fork member. In one embodiment, the loop is formed by a slip knot formed in the dock line. The crew member may then extend the fork member over a dock cleat and position the apex of the loop behind the dock cleat. The loop may be formed by tying a simple bowline knot or a running bowline knot on the dock line that allows the crew member to pull and tighten the loop around the dock cleat.

The elongated pole is made of aluminum, PVC or fiberglass and includes two telescopic sections that are adjustable in length or may include one fixed length section. The fork member may also be made of stainless steel, aluminum, PVC or fiberglass. In the preferred embodiment, the fork member is made of rigid material that withstands forces exerted on the fork member when the device is a guide pole when entering or leaving the dock.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 an illustration of the rope engaging docking device held by a crew member to attach a dock line to a dock cleat.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the docking device.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the docking device.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the fork member.

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing the docking device holding a dock line, ready to loop it around the dock cleat.

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing the docking device with the dock line looped around a dock cleat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The rope engaging docking device 10 is a tool for attaching a dock line 50 on a boat 100 to an out of reach dock cleat 92 commonly found near the edge of a dock 90 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the docking device 10 comprises a straight, lightweight tubular elongated pole 20 with a fork member 30 attached to the elongated pole's distal end 22. The fork member 30 includes a center hub 31 and two spreaders arms 32, 38 which together form a yoke or U-shaped structure which opens in a direction opposite the elongated pole 12.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, formed on the distal end of each spreader arm 32, 38 is a rope engaging slot 33, 39, respectively, also opens in a direction opposite the elongated pole 20. In the embodiment shown herein, the rope engaging slots 33, 39 are V-shaped and designed to receive and hold a side section 50A, 50B of the dock line 50, respectively, extended transversely over the ends of the two spreader arms 32, 38. When a dock line 50 is drawn firmly, the sections 50A, 50B of the dock line 50 are drawn firmly into the rope engaging slots 33, 39, until the narrowing of the slots 33, 39 pinches it, that portion of the dock line 50 is attached and immobilized in relation to the docking device 10. The dock line 50 remains immobilized until it is released by firmly pulling outward from the slots 33, 39. It should be understood, however, that the rope engaging slots 33, 39, are not limited to V-shaped slots and may have be other configurations that engage the dock line 50.

The ends of the spreader arms 32, 38 are narrow and partially pointed enabling the crew member 80 to use one spreader arm 32 or 38 o snag the dock line 50 when wrapped around a dock cleat 92.

During use, a large loop 54 is formed in the dock line 50 as shown in FIG. 1. The two side sections 50A, 50B of the dock line 50 that form the loop 54 are disposed transversely over the slots 33, 39. The apex 55 of the loop 54 droops and hangs down in the open center area 36 formed in between the two spreader arms 32, 38 at least 4 to 12 inches. In one embodiment, the loop 54 may be formed one end of the dock line 50 by tying a slip knot 56 in the dock line 50. In another embodiment, one end of the dock line 50 extends downward from one spreader arm 32 or 38 and then upward to the opposite spreader arm 32 or 38. The end of the dock line 50 is then extended up the elongated pole 20 to the crew member 80 and manually held. A continuous loop 54 is formed on the dock line 50 with the apex 55 extending below the fork member 30.

With the dock line 50 configured as described above and attached to the fork member 30, the crew member 80 holds the dock line 50 and the proximal end 21 of the elongated pole 20 and extends the fork member 30 outward. The apex 55 of the loop 54 extends below the fork member 30. The crew member 80 then manipulates the proximal end 23 of the elongated pole 20 so the apex 55 of the loop 54 encircles the dock cleat 92 as shown in FIG. 1. When the loop 54 has encircled the dock cleat 92, the crew member 80 draws the fork member 30 and dock line 50 rearward and away from the cleat 92 until the loop 54 closes and tightens around the cleat 92. While holding tension on the dock line 50, the crew member 80 continues to draw the elongated pole 20 away until the fork member 30 releases the loop 54. The crew member 80 continues to pull the dock line 50 and apply tension causing the loop 54 to finish closing around the dock cleat 92. With one end of the dock line 50 attached to the dock cleat 92, the crew member 80 attaches the other end of the dock line 50 to the boat 100.

To release the dock line 50 from the cleat 92, the crew member 80 loosely grips the dock line 50 and manipulates the elongated pole 20 so one or both spreader arms 32, 38 draw the loop 54 away from the cleat 92 and re-opens the loop 54. The crew member 80 then places the spreader arms 32, 38 over the dock line 50 and tugs on the dock line 50 to pull the dock line 50 into one of the slots 33, 39 on the spreader arms 32, 38, respectively. The loop 54 on the dock line 50 does not have to be snagged by one of the slots 33, 39. The crew member 80 then lifts the elongated pole 20 with the dock line 50 in its control to draw the loop 54 over and away from the dock cleat 92.

In an alternative application of the docking device 10, both of the ends of the dock line 50 are continuous with the loop 54, and can be held by the crew member 80. This allows the crew member 80 to control both legs of the loop 54 around the cleat 92 created when the docking device 10 is pulled away from the dock line 50.

The elongated pole 20 is tubular approximately 1 to 2 inches in diameter. It is made of aluminum, PVC or fiberglass and includes two telescopic sections 24, 26 adjustable in length and each section 24, 26 is approximately 72 to 96 inches in length allowing the elongated pole 20 to extend approximate 120 to 140 inches. A lock nut 29 is attached to the elongated pole 20 to lock the two sections 24, 26 in a fixed location. It should be understood, however that the elongated pole 20 may be one fixed length section.

The fork member 30 is approximately 8 to 12 inch in length and 6 to 20 inches in width. Each spreader arm 32, 38 is approximately 4 to 12 inches in length and 6 to 24 inches apart. The front openings of the rope engaging slots 33, 39 are approximately ¾ to 1½ inches wide and the slots 33, 39 are approximately 2 to 4 inches in length. The fork member 30 is made of stainless steel, aluminum, PVC or fiberglass. In the preferred embodiment, the fork member 30 is made of rigid material that withstands forces exerted on the fork member 30 when the device 10 is a guide pole when entering or leaving the dock 90.

Also disclosed is a method for connecting a dock line 50 on a boat 100 to a dock cleat 92 while standing on the boat 100, comprising the following steps:

a. while positioned on a boat, selecting a rope engaging docking device that includes an elongated pole 20 with opposite proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis, and a fork member mounted on said distal end of said elongated pole 20, said fork member includes a center hub 31 that attaches to said distal end of said elongated pole 20 and two spreader arms 32, 38 each with a rope engaging slot 33, 39, respectively, formed on its distal end, said spreader arms 32, 38 being configured to extend outward on opposite sides of said center hub 31;

b. extending a dock line 50 transversely over said fork member 30 and between said rope engaging slots 33, 39, said dock line 50 forming a loop with a lower apex and to side sections, said lower apex be disposed below said fork member and said side sections being temporarily attached to said rope engaging slots 33, 39;

c. gripping said elongated pole 20 near said proximal end and extending said fork member 30 over a dock cleat 92 so the section of dock line 50 that extends downward between said spreader arms 32, 38 is positioned behind said dock cleat 92;

d. pulling said dock line 50 to tighten said dock line 50 round said dock cleat 92; and,

e. removing said rope engaging slots 33, 39 from said dock line 50.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents. 

I claim:
 1. A rope engaging docking device for connecting and disconnecting a dock line to a dock cleat, comprising: a. dock line with a loop formed on one end with two side segments and a lower apex; b. an elongated pole with opposite proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis; and, c. a fork member mounted on said distal end of said elongated pole, said fork member includes a center hub that attaches to said distal end of said elongated pole and two laterally extending spreader arms each with a rope engaging slot formed on its distal end, said spreader arms being equal length and configured to extend outward on opposite sides of said center hub, said rope engaging slots configured to received and temporarily hold said side segments on said dock line when said lower apex is disposed below said fork member and extended around a dock cleat.
 2. The docking device as recited in claim 1, wherein said rope engaging slot is a V-shaped and aligned longitudinally on said spreader arm, said slot is configured to receive and grip a section of said dock line extended transversely over the distal end of said spreader arm.
 3. The docking device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated pole is telescopically adjustable.
 4. A method for connecting a dock line on a boat to a dock cleat on a dock while standing on the boat, comprising the following steps: a. while positioned on a boat, selecting a rope engaging docking device that includes an elongated pole with opposite proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis, and a a fork member mounted on said distal end of said elongated pole, said fork member includes a center hub that attaches to said distal end of said elongated pole and two spreader arms each with a rope engaging slot formed on its distal end configured to receive and temporarily attached to a segment formed on said dock line, said spreader arms being configured to extend outward on opposite sides of said center hub; b. extending a dock line transversely over said fork member and extending between and connected to said rope engaging slots, a portion of said dock line extends downward in between said spreader arms; c. gripping said elongated pole near said proximal end and extending said fork member over a dock cleat so the section of dock line that extends downward between said spreader arms is positioned behind said cleat; d. pulling said dock line to tighten said dock line around said cleat; and, e. removing said rope engaging slots from said dock line. 